Chelsea Reach Agreement With Pato

The Premier League champions are prepared to take a gamble on the former AC Milan striker having agreed a £12 million deal with Brazilian side Corinthians for the 26-year-old

Chelsea are reported to have reached a verbal agreement with Alexandre Pato over a deal that would see the Brazilian complete a January move to Stamford Bridge, according to ESPN Brazil.

The 26-year-old has been linked with a string of Premier League clubs this month, including Tottenham and Liverpool, while there has also been reported interest from China in the former AC Milan star.

But it appears that the Premier League champions have won the race to sign the Corinthians striker who are already believed to have agreed a fee of around £12 million with the west London club.

Pato revealed his desire to move to the Premier League earlier this month and told theTelegraph: “I would like to come to England because I think the championship [Premier League] is the No1 in the world.

“I want to write a new story in Europe, to make a new history. I want to come to win the championship and play again in the Champions League. I have dreams again. I want to create this new story, a good new story.”

Pato’s career has stalled since he returned to South America in 2013 following five topsy-turvy years in Milan, but is reportedly so keen to join Chelsea that he is willing to take a significant pay cut and turn down several more lucrative offers.